Feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines.



J., H. C. & G. S. ZIMMERMAN & F. WILKBR.

FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOB. TONGUING AND GROOVING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J., H. C. & G. S.-ZIMMERMAN & P. WILKBR. PEBDING ATTAUHMENT'POR TONGUING AND GROWING MACHINES.

` APPLICATION IILBD MAY 23, 1914. 1,121,707, Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J., H. C. 6L G. S. ZIMMERMAN a F. WILKER. FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR TONGUING AND GROOVING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23,1914.

1, 1 21,707, Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F/G. Z

/NVL'NTORS H02 an UNITED STATES FATFN T OFFTCFL]V JOHN ZIMMERMAN, HARRY C. ZIMMERMAN, GEORGE S. ZIMMERMN, AND FREDERICK WILKER, OF TAVISTOCK,.ONTARIO. CANADA.

FEEDING- ATTACHMENT FOR TONG-UING AND GROOVING MACHINES.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented nec.. 22, 1914..

Application filed May 23. 1914. Serial No. 840.516.

To alZ @1J/ont 'it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN ZIMMERMAN, HARRY C.V ZIMMERMAN, GEORGE S. ZIMMER- MAN, land FREDERICK lVILKER, all of the village of Tavistock, in the county of Oxford, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful ,Improvements in Feeding Attachments for Tonguing and Grooving Machines, of which the following is the specification.

Our invention relates to feeding attachments for tonguing and grooving machines and is particularly adaptable to that type of machine known in the trade as the Linder'- man dove-tailer and groover in which the board portions are fed simultaneously from both ends of the machine toward the center to be simultaneously operated upon, and the object of the invention is to provide a feeding attachment whereby boards of various widths may be fed in pairs from one point intermediately of the length of the tonguing and grooving Vmachine to the ends of the machine, one board of each pair passing to one end of the machine and the other board to the other end and whereby the. boards are there transferred laterally on to the conveyers of the grooving machine, and it consists essentially of a table supported in position flush with the table of the tonguing and grooving machine, a longitudinal guide strip extending from each side of the center and in proximity to each side of the feeding table, an adjustable hopper located between the inner ends of the aforesaid strip and conveyer chains revolving in the opposite directions to each other, one chain being located in proximity to each guide strip and designed to carry the board from the center of the machine to the receiving point of the tonguing and grooving machine, resilient means for holding Vthe boards carried in the conveyers against the guiding strips and means for then passing the board laterally Vinto the conveyer of the tonguing and grooving machine as hereinafter more particularly explained by the following specification.

Figure l. is a side elevation of a tonguing and grooving machine showing our attachment ,in position beside the same. Fig. is a plan view of Figtl. Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation of the center portion of the feeding table showing the chain conveyers for carrying the boards longitudinally. Fig.

l, is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 23. Fig. 5, is a cross sectional view on line m--y Fig. Fig. 6, is an enlarged perspective detail showing the means for carrying the board laterally7 from'our feed table on to the feed table of the tonguing and groovng machine. Fig. 7, is an enlarged perspective detail of the means for carrying the board laterally at the other end of the machine from the feed table of our attachment to the feed table of the tonguing and grooving machine, and looking from the opposite side of the machine from which Fig. 6 is taken. Fig. 8, is a cross section on line .LV-y Fig. (i.

ln the drawings like let-ters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each gure.

A is a tonguing and grooving machine provided with the usual chain conveyers A' and A2 designed to carry the board fed into the machine from cach end thereof toward the center and into engagement with the operating mechanism A3.

B is our feeding attachment which is located at one side of the tonguing and grooviug machine parallel therewith.

l is the feeding table of our attachment.

C is the main shaft of the tonguing and grooving machine on which is mounted a sprocket wheel C.

C?. C3 and C4 are shafts mounted in suitable hearings beneath the feed table B'.

C5 and C6 are sprocket wheels mounted on each end of the shaft C2.

CT and CS are sprocket wheels mounted on each end of the shaft C3.

C and C10 are sprocket wheels mounted upon the shaft C4.

C is a sprocket chain forming a driving connection between the sprocket wheel C and the sprocket wheel C5. l

C12 is a sprocket chain which extends around the sprocket wheel C6 beneath the sprocket wheel C? and around the sprocket wheel CNL By this means the sprocket wheel C5 and sprocket wheel C6 are driven in the direction of arrow and the sprocket wheels CT and C* in the direction of arrow.

C13 is an endless feeding chain provided with feeding dogs CH. The chain C13 extends around the sprocket wheel CB at one end and at its opposite end is supported by an idler sprocket pinion C15, the chain traveling' in the direction of arrow see Figs. 3 and 4. i

i of travel of the chain C13.

D is a guiding strip secured tovtlie'v feed table B and extending from a point in proximity to the longitudinal1A center of the feed table parallel and in close proximity to' the outer'edge thereof to the end of the table.

l," is-a similar stripextending from the center olf"thetabley B vin the opposite direction t'o' the opposite end' of the table.

E is the receiving hopper designed to receive the boards which are 'to be fed in pairs to' the tongu-in-g andgroovingmachine. lie hopper E comprises side portionsv E', E, one side board E carried in a stationary position on the feeding vtaol'e B1 and the other in a stationary position on the guiding strip D, adjustable end portion and E12. Each port-ion E2 and E12' carries a side p'ieceEm' secured thereto in a stationary position and anl adjustable' side E6.

E `are Lshapedf brackets, the upwardly extending arms" of the brackets E are secured to the endl portions E2 and 'E12 in proximity 'to the ends ofeach' of such portions. The lower or horizontalarmsof the brackets are provided with longitudinal slots E1 (see Fig. 4f) through each of which extendsa` clamping' bolt E5 holding the portions' E2 and E12 longitudinally in position. By this mea-ns the lengt-h of the' hopper may be adjusted to receive and hold a board ofv the required length.

'Each portion E2 and E12 is provided with horizont-al slots- ES rlocated in proXim ity to one end-of the portions E2 and E11. rll'he portions E are provided with headed pins TE1'slidabl'y held 'in the slots E8. By

this means the side portioris E6 may be adjiisted on the Aend portions E? and E1:2 so that the hopper E may Abe capable of holding boards' of various u'fidths in posi i tion. f

rio-

E13 is an opening in the end board E12 through' which the V`boards are slid into the hopper E.

E9 is a supplemental table on which the f 'boards' are piled in pairs. As soon as the certain definite width the pairs of boards which are supplied lto the hopper. may Abe of any width in relation one t'o the other but their combined width must be suiiicient to `foi-nia single board ofthe desired width by the union of the pairs ofboards fed to the machine.

l? are a series of leaf springs secured at onev end F in a vstationary position to the table B" the free ends of the spring bearing toward the guidingstrip D.

F2v areY similar series 'of springs located oppositethe guiding strip D and "alsosecured-to the table'B. rllliefree ends ofthe springs Fflliarea tendency to bear toward thestrip D".

Gr are a series of parallel boards located at one end ofthe table B and flush therewith, such boards extending.v at right angles -across the end of the table andl projecting inwardly toward the tonguing. and grooVin'g'ma-chine into close proximity to the feeding conveyer ofthe -tonguing and grooving machine, such boards GVv being flush with lthe tonguedv sur` face of such :feeding conveyer. The boards (d are spaced a suitable distance apart for a purpose which will hereinafter appear and' are suitably connected together at their ends.

Gr is a board secured beneath the boards G and spaced apart therefrom so as yto forni a horizontal guide-way G2.

G is aboard slida'ble in such guide-w15y beingheld' in lposition by the guiding strips (is secured thereto at each 'end and bearing against both edges of the board G.

G* are bearing brackets carried by the board G3', such bearing brackets being `arranged in pairs.

A (H5 are feed dogs4 provided with trunnions G journaled in the brackets G4 and tail pieces GrT bearing' normally against lthe, up'- per face of the board G3.

li is a cross piece provided with notches lll, H1 and H3 in its lower face, the notches and being located opposite-'intervening spaces between the boards G and the notch H being located'to the outside ofthe outermost board Gr. These notches H, andl H3 form openings through which the feed dogs pass when Vmoving irrt-heir opera'- ti've direction.

H* is a slide piece extendingl from the cross piece H. y

G10 isa slot in the center board Gr.

G11 is a headed pin extending through the slide piece into the slot Gm. Y

I is a swinging, arm pivoted at l tothe table B. The vupper end of the arm I vis provided with a longitudinal slot I2 through which extends the headedlpin G11 projecting upwardly from the slide piece H4 and downwardly into the slot G10.

P is -a pressure member connected by av link I5 to the -arin I.

l is a leaf spring carried by the pressure member l* and bearing against the arm I.

.l is a crank rod mounted on bearings J.

-l2 is a lever connected at its upper end with the slidingboard it a pitman comprising two portions and il". the portion J6 being provided with a. longitudinal slot .ll through which extends clamping bolts provided with nuts JVS.

J" is a link connected at the lower end ot the lever .l2 to a suitable stationary portion such as the bearing J.

Jig is a spring connecting the bars J" and .V together vto render them readily adjustable longitudinally when the nuts J3 are loosened thereby accommodating the lever through to the width ot' the board tied.

le will now describe the mechanism by which the boards are ted laterally from the opposite end ot the machine. K are a series ot' boards supported similarly to the boards (i and provii'led with a lower board K ibi-ming a side way K2 similar to the guideway G2. K3 is a cross piece connected to the '.t'eed table B' and Jforming an extension ot the. side strip D and provided with notches li* and K5. K are feeding dogs similar to the feeding dogs G as hereinbe'tore described. L are spring arms connected to the boards K and extending over the cross piece l" and ciu-ving downwardly in proximity to the guiding strip A ot' the tonguing and grooving machine passing at their eXtreme end through the recess A7 and provided with lip-turned portions L to which is riveted a closing plate L. The feeding dogs K6 are operated by similar mechanism to that described in connection to the feeding dogs G". hl is an arm for a purpose which will hereinat'ter appear.

Having described the principal parts involved in our invention we will brieiiy describe the operation of the same.

.is previously described the boards are piled in pairs in the hopper l. The feeding chains C1 and C1 are then driven in reverse directions so that the dogs ot' the chain C1 engage the board 2 ot each pair as indicated b y dotted lines in Fig. l. and the dogs ot the chain C1" engage the opposite edge of the other board fil of each pair ot boards indicated by dotted lines in Fig. -l-. Bv this means the board portion 2 and the board portion 3 are carried in opposite directions into engagement with the leafsprings F and F2 which press them against the guide strips D and D respectively. The chains C13 and C1 carry the boards outwardly to the end of the. table B. The ioard traveling to the right hand end ot the machine engages the pressure bar I* forcing it outwardly against the arm I to an extent in proportion to its width, the arm I carrying the-cross piece H a relative distance so as to allow the outer edge of the board 2 to slide past and against the inner edge ot' the cross piece H. It will be understood that the mechanism oi our feeding device is so timed that the board when carried to the position above described is in exactly the right position to be engaged by the feeding dog -l ot the tonguing and grooving machine when the board has been carried laterally as hereinat'ter described. The crank J operates through the lever J2 to draw the cross board G carrying the dogs G5 forwardly. The dogs Gr5 pass through the notches H', H2 and H and engage the board which is carried forwardly on to the feedingl conreyer ot the tonguing and grooving machine. .is the Vfeeding dogs G5 traverse the space between the cross piece H and the teeding conveyers of the tonguing and grooving machine another board 2 is carried into place. During the reverse movement oi the feeding dogs G5 the upper faces ot' such dogs engage with the new board 2 and are tilted slightly downwardly so as to pass beneath the same to their normal position. The board portion 3 which passes to the lett hand end ot the machine passes along in close proximity to the guiding strip D until theyy are in the lateral feeding position in front ot' the notches K" and K5, the board being held down in this position by the arm M. The dogs K then operate to carry the board laterally. During such lateral movement the board engages the downwardly curved portions of the spring arms L carrying such portions upwardly and thereby raising the plate L carried thereb v above the top of the recess A7 holding it in this position until the board has passed such plate. Immediately the board has passed the plate the arms force the plate downwardly in t'ront o't' the recess to close the same. the boa rd being then held against such plate by the lent1 springs O carried by the bar 0 secured to the feeding 4table ot the tonguing and grooving machine.

In order to allow ot different width of boards being fed we provide a laterally sliding piece Z which supports the conveyer chain C16 and guide strip D. The piece Z is held on guide bars which support an outer stationary retaining strip Z3 between which and the body of the table the piece Z has iuoven'ient. The gears C and C18 are secured to their sumiorting shafts by Set screw so as to be adjustable with the pieces Z.

Suitable clutches may be employed by which the conveyers ot' the tonguing and grooving machine and the conreyers ot the attachment may be alternately thrown in and out ot' gear.

From this description it will be seen that we have devised a very simple i'ieeding attachment for a tonguing and grooving machine by which the boards are carried from their central position to the ends of the machine and are then fed laterally thereinto.

YWhat We claim as our invention is:

l. The combination `With the tonguing and groei/'ing machine providedl With the usual inwardly vfeeding longitudinal end conveyers, of a feeding device designed to feed i board in either direction from a point intermediate of the length of the ltonguing and greci/'ing machine and parallel thereto to the end of such machine and on to the longitudinal conveyers thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with the tonguing and grooring machine provided with the usual end conifeyers designed to feed a board inwardly toward the center of the machine, of a feeding attachment designed to feed a board in either direction from a point intermediate of the length of the machine to each end thereof and supplemental means for moving each board laterally into the conreyers of the tonguing and grooving machine, as and forthe purpose specified.

ifi feeding attachment for tonguing and 'grooring i acnines comprising a feed table, a board receiving hopper mounted thereon and designed to contain a series of boards arra-nged horizontally in pairs, of an endless conveyer extending under each board of cach pair, means for driving the conveyin reverse directions so as to carry the one board longitudinally in one direction and the other board longitudinally in the opposite direction, as and for the purpose specified.

l. r feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines comprising a feed table, a board i ceiving hopper mounted thereon and designed to contain a series of boards arranged horizontally in pairs, of an endless conyeyer extending under each board of each pair, means for driving the conveyers in reverse directions so as to carry the one board longitudinally in one direction and the other board in the opposite direction and mechanism for carrying the boards laterally from the ends of the longitudinal conveyers, as and for the purpose specified.

A feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines comprising a feeding table adapted to lie parallel with the tonguing and grooving machine, guiding strips extending each Way from the center of the feed table in proximity to the opposite edges thereof, an endlessconifeyer traveling in proximity to the inner edge of each guide strip and resilient means for holding the boards carried by the conreyers against the guide strips during their travel from end to end of the guide strips, and for the purpose specified.

6. A feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines comprising a feeding table adapted to lie parallel and flush with the feed tableof the tonguing and grooving machine, a feed hopper carried by the-table of the feeding attachment intermediate of its length and designed to contain boards arranged in pairs, and means for carrying one board of each pair longitudinally in one direction and the other board of each pair longitudinally in the opposite direction and transverse slidable dogs located at the end of each longitudinal conveyer and designed to engage Vthe end ofthe board to .carry it laterally on to the feedingconveyerof the tonguing and grooving machine, as and for the purpose specified.

7. ln a feeding attachment for tonguingand grooving machines,the ccmbinationwith the main feeding table thereof and a longitudinal board conveyer carried thereby, of a supplemental feeding table located at the end of the aforesaid table and arranged at right angles thereto and flush therewith, feeding dogs carried by the supplemental table, means for reciprocating the dogs longitudinally of such supplemental table, a. notched cross bar slidably carried by the supplemental table and )through the notches of which the dogs are designed to pass, and means operated by the approaching board for adjusting the cross bar on the supplemental table to allow aboard ofl any Width to pass on to the supplemental table in front of the cross bar andin contact therewith, as and for the purpose specified.

8. ln a feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines, the combination with the main feeding table, of a supplemental feeding table Alocated at the end of the main feeding table at right anglesthereto and flush therewith, feeding dogs slidably carried by the supplemental table and adapted to travel longitudinally thereof, a notched cross bar slidably carried by the supplemental table and through/the notches of which the dogs are designed to pass, a supplemental arm piif'otally mounted upon a suitable support at one end and pivotally connected to the cross bar atthe'op-posite end, a spring pressed engaging bar set at angle to the longitudinal conveyers and with the end of which the f'eed board is designed to engage and a link connection between such bar and the supplemental arm connected to the aforesaid notched cross bar, as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines, the combination ris with a feeding table thereofv and a longii tudinal board conveyer carried thereby and the conveyer guiding strip of the tongning and grooving machine having an orifice therein adapted to allow the passage of boards therethrough on to the conveyer of the tonguing and grooving machine, of a supplemental feeding table located at the end thereof at right anglesthereto and: flush therewith, a guiding strip extending longitudinally of the main feeding table in proximity to the conveyers and provided with an extension extending over the supplemental table and having notches therein'in the inner face thereof, reciprocating feeding dogs carried by the supplemental table and moving longitudinally thereof and designed to engage the side of the board fedfrom the longitudinal conveyer to pass the boards laterally through the aforesaid orifice of the tonguingand grooving machine, a temporary closing plate for such admission orice adapted to be raised by the passage of the boards therethrough and to then drop between the boards so passed and the orifice, and resilient pressure means adapted to be carried by the tonguing and grooving ma chine to force said board against such plate, as and for the purpose specified.

l0. In a feeding attachment for tonguing and Ygrooving machines, the combination with the side guiding strip of a tonguing and grooving machine having an admission orifice extending therethrough, of a feeding attachment provided with a feeding table, a feeding conveyer Y extending longitudinally thereof, a supplemental feeding table extending at right angles thereto and flush therewith, reciprocating feeding dogs carried by the table, a side guiding strip for the longitudinal conveyer having an eXtension having notches on its under face through which the dogs are designed to pass, cam formed curved leaf-springs secured to the supplemental table and eX- tending over the guiding strip extension and downwardly in proximity to the guiding Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the strip of the tonguing and grooving machineV and through the orifice thereof, and a clos- 40 ing plate for the orifice carried by the ends of the springs, as and for the purpose speci- Hed.

ll. In a feeding attachment for tonguing and grooving machines, the combination with the side guiding strip of a tonguing and grooving machine having an admission orifice extending therethrough, of a feeding attachment provided with a feeding table,

a feeding conveyer extending longitudinally thereof, a supplemental feeding table eX- tending at right angles thereto and fiush therewith, reciprocating feeding dogs carried by the table, a side guiding strip for the longitudinal conveyer having an extension having notches on its under face through which the dogs are designed to pass, cam formed curved leaf-springs secured to the supplemental table and extending over the guiding strip extension and downwardly in proximity to the guiding strip of the tonguing and groovingmachine and through the orifice thereof, and a closing plate for the orifice carried by the Vends of the springs, and spring pressure means adapted to force 60 the boards passed through the orifice past the closing plate against such plate, as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN ZIMMERMAN. HARRY C. ZIMMERMAN. GEORGE S. ZIMMERMAN. FREDERICK VILKER.

Witnesses BURTHA MACVICAR, VALENTIN S'rocn.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

